News from the Student Services Centre (Carrington Building)

Month: June 2015

We’re encouraging our students to explore their creative side by entering the annual Raymond Wilson Poetry Prize.

The competition is held in memory of brilliant educationalist Raymond Wilson (1925-1995), former Emeritus Professor of Education at the University. The prize of £200 will be awarded for the best poem for children.

Competition organiser, Stephanie Sharp of the Institute of Education, said:

This competition will be judged by children in a local school and their vote carries equal weighting with that of a published children’s poet and with mine as an academic. This brings the perspectives of teacher, writer and young reader to bear on the judging.

This year, the closing date for entries will fall on National Poetry Day on 8 October 2015, with the winner being announced on 2 November.

Raymond Wilson was an exceptional educationalist, as well as an inspired educational editor who introduced new editions of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poetry and Jane Austen’s novels. Wilson was also well-known as an intuitive, sensitive critic and a prolific anthologist.

Entries to the Raymond Wilson Poetry Prize may be sent to the competition administrator: Chris Tibbenham, Institute of Education, University of Reading, London Road Campus, RG1 5EX.

Queries about any aspect of the competition can be addressed to Stephanie Sharp: s.sharp@reading.ac.uk (ext 2675).

Take a few minutes to complete the Neighbourhood Survey. It’s your chance to have your say on issues that affect you in your neighbourhood in Reading. Traffic, crime, environmental issues and anti-social behaviour can affect us all. Help your local neighbourhood groups to identify what concerns you the most and help to set priorities. The survey is open until 5 July 2015.

Hard copies of the survey are available and will be distributed at some local events. Please contact the Neighbourhood Initiative Team (0118 937 2991) if you wish to distribute hard copies within your groups. There is a return freepost address on the hard copy and return boxes will be available in the libraries and leisure centres from later this week.